66 Secondly, I would furround you with all the IMAGES employed by the facred writers, when they would describe the nature of a religious life. For which of them does not imply progrefs, and remind us of the importance of undiminished ardour and unceafing exertion? Is it "the fhining light?" This "fhines more and more unto the perfect day." Is it the growing grain? Behold "first the blade, then the ear, after that the full corn in the ear." Is it the muftard-feed? What though its beginning be small, "when it is grown, it is the greatest among herbs, and "becometh a tree; fo that the birds of the air "come and lodge in the branches thereof." Is it leaven? It prevades "the meal, till the whole be leav"ened." Is the christian a scholar; and is he only to retain what he has already acquired? Is he running a race; and in the middle of his courfe does he fit down to reft, or step afide to gather flowers? Is he a warrior; and does he fleep not only in the field, but even in the action? Thirdly, I would call forth EXAMPLES in your prefence. They teach you the fame truth-Who faid, "I beseech thee, fhew me thy glory ?" A man, who had "feen God face to face." Who prayed, "teach "me thy ftatutes:" "open thou mine eyes, that "I may behold wondrous things out of thy law?" A man, who had "more understanding than" all "his "teachers;" a man, who " understood more than the "ancients." It is needless to multiply inftances. Perhaps no man ever carried religion to higher degrees; perhaps no individual had ever fo much reafon to be fatisfied with his proficiency as the apostle Paul; but hear his language to the Philippians; "Brethren, I "count not myself to have apprehended: but this one 22 thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind." And what things, to ufe the words of an admired preacher, had he to forget? The churches he had eftablished, the fermons he had preached; his prayers and epiftles; journeys and perils; unexampled labours; the abundance of his revelations, his entering the third heaven, all this, fays he, " is behind;" all this I deem unworthy of recollection, compared with the future. I am reaching forth unto " those things which are be"fore; I prefs toward the mark, for the prize of my high calling of God in Chrift Jefus." And have we" attained;" are we " already perfect?" And fhall we leave off to make advances? Shall we be fatisfied with our trifling acquifitions? 66 Fourthly, I would hold up to view the ADVANTAGES of progreffive religion. A chriftian fhould be concerned for the honour of God; he is under infinite obligations to "fhew forth "the praises of Him, who hath called us out of dark"ness into his marvellous light;" but " herein is" our "Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit.” A chriftian fhould be concerned for the welfare of his fellow-creatures. He fhould be a bleffing to his family, to his country. He fhould be as "a dew from "the Lord," fertilizing the place in which he lives. He should have a ftock, not only fufficient to sustain himself, but to relieve others. He fhould be a ftream, at which the thirsty may drink; a fhadow, under which the weary may refresh themselves; he fhould be the image of his Lord and Saviour, going about doing good, cafting out unclean fpirits, opening the eyes of the blind, binding up the broken-hearted. But the more grace he poffeffes, the more qualified will he be for usefulness; the more will he be difpofed and enabled to do good. A christian fhould be concerned for his own profperity; and has he to learn wherein it confifts? Need he be told, that adding grace to grace, is adding " ftrength "to ftrength," dignity to dignity, beauty to beauty, joy to joy? It is with the christian, as it is with the man in trade; the more he acquires, the more he is enabled to gain; every increase is not only a poffeffion, but a capacity. "To him that hath, fhall be given, and he "shall have more abundantly; but from him that hath "not, fhall be taken away, even that which he seemeth "to have." The more fin is mortified in us, the lefs will the "prince of this world find" to encourage his approach; the less fufceptible fhall we be of temptation in the scenes of danger through which we pafs. There is something very attractive and pleafing in progrefs. It is agreeable to obferve a stately edifice rifing up from the deep basis, and becoming a beautiful manfion. It is entertaining to fee the rough outline of a picture, filled and finished. It is ftriking in the garden, to behold the tree renewing figns of life; to mark the expanding foliage, the opening bud, the lovely bloffom, the fwelling, colouring, ripening fruit. And where is the father, where is the mother, who has not sparkled with delight, while contemplating the child growing in ftature; acquiring by degrees the ufe of its tender limbs; beginning to totter, and then to walk more firmly; the pointing finger fucceeded by the prattling tongue; curiofity awakened; reason dawning; new powers opening; the character forming. But nothing is to be compared with the progrefs of "this building "of God;" thefe "trees of righteoufnefs;" this 66 changing into his image from glory to glory;" this procefs of "the new creature" from the hour of regeneration "unto a perfect man, unto the measure of "the ftature of the fullness of Chrift." And, O what is it when we are the fubjects too! The nearer we live to heaven, the more of its pure, and peaceful influence we shall enjoy. The way of life, narrow at the entrance, widens as we proceed. It is the nature of habits to render their acts eafy and delightful. There is little pleasure in religion, if there be no fervency; if there be no vigour in faith, no zeal in devotion, no life in duty, religion is without a foul; it is the mere carcafs of inanimate virtue. What fenfations of ecftacy, what prospects of affurance, can fuch chriftians expect? In converfion, as in the alteration of an old edifice, we first demolish, and this only furnishes us with rubbish and ruins; but afterwards, we raise up an orderly beautiful building, in which we are refreshed and charmed. What an happiness arises from difficulties overcome, and from labour crowned with fuccefs! What emotions can equal the joy of one, who after the painful battle " divides the fpoil?" But what can resemble the fatisfaction of the chriftian, who on each successful exertion gathers fresh “glory, "honour, and immortality!" The life of the active christian is the labour of the bee; who all day long is flying from the hive to the flower, or from the flower to the hive; but all his business is confined to fragran-cy, and productive of fweets. There are many prom one; ઃઃ .. ises made to perfeverance in the divine life, and this is "then fhall we know if we follow on to know "the Lord: his going forth is prepared as the morning; and he shall come unto us as the rain, as the "latter and the former rain unto the earth." This is the way to obtain divine refreshments and manifeftations; thus the Saviour we purfue, upon every pleafing furprise we express will say, " thou fhalt fee great"er things than thefe." Some of you are much perplexed as to your spiritual condition; the reason is obvious; little things are fcarcely perceptible; let your religion be enlarged, and it will become more obvious. And to close this part of our difcourfe, remember that it is an awful proof, that you have no real religion, if you are fatisfied with what you have; a degree of experience however small, would stimulate; the relish would provoke the appetite; and having "tafted that "the Lord is gracious," your language would be, evermore give us this bread." The nearer a perfon in any profeffion or fcience approaches to perfection, the more clearly will he perceive, and the more painfully will he feel his remaining imperfections. In nothing is this more undeniable, than in religious proficiency. This being the cafe, I am perfuaded, christians, you are prepared, PART III. To receive fome ADMONITIONS WITH REGARD TO YOUR FUTURE EFFORTS. First, Shake off INDOLENCE. Nothing is more injurious to our progrefs, and alas! nothing is more common. It has indeed been said, that floth is a vice |